Western Force v Crusaders

[wantonbehaviour]

Well considering the stature of the opposition, scratch match or no, a reasonable result. No surprises that the Kiwis will attempt to embrace a large market place like Melbourne. Pretty big expat Kiwi prescence there as well in bleak city.
The bookies shortening the odds by 20% either reflects a few "sportsmen" having a rough dip at the juicy odds or, that's a marketing ploy to try and flush some optimists out. Looking at the "Baggy" one from Cypress, not impossible, just unlikely!
If you think media silence in Perth is deathly, try the Sth China Sea mate! Home next week but so looking forward to the "Brumbies" running headlong into the Whole Force at Subi Rrraaarrrr

[Burgs]

Just saw a couple of clips of the match on ABC News.
Very strong running for Staniforths two tries and the team looked pretty good considering they were playing on a LAKE!
Would be the first game in wet conditions for many of them in quite a while, perhaps why Staniforth stood out for the backs returning from Europe.
A charge down on MacKay and a couple of untimely fumbles by others was really all there was from having a much closer match.
Full credit to the defending Champions for being able to turn those couple of blemishes into points, as they did all last season.
Unfortunately an injury to Brock James which will probably keep him out of the Blues match and fingers crossed for the Brumbies season opener.
Apparently Vitori Buatava was flown to Melbourne late due to an injury to Chris O'Young during Friday's Captain's Run.
Also read in the Sunday Times some dramas for RugbyWA/Force from ARU for playing the underage David Pocock last weekend.
Pocock doesn't turn 18 until April and one of the other Australian S14 teams is bitching as they weren't able to play their members of the same age.
Indications are that nothing will come of it, possibly able to put it down to naivety of a new club.....maybe?!

[LarryNJ]

This is a very sad state of affairs!

I'm amazed that they didn't even broadcast the game on the radio. This is a professional team right? They need advertising revenue to pay the players. Not to mention that it's a slap in the face to all of their fans. Who the hell is running this team, and what are they thinking?

[wantonbehaviour]

Just read some early rushes of the daily broadsheets via the web. The "Force" have been impressive in particular the younger members. The scoreline was not (1) that bad, or (2) a fair measure of the game. The Ref missing a double knockon resulting in a try, already mentioned and, the returning Internationals likely a tad rusty. Mitchell says it will be ramped up this Thurs. but some "Cloak and Dagger" stuff will be kept from "Brumby" scouts in the hitout with the "Blues".
Friday week looking "Juicier" by the day!